“He’d get my vote ” – Joe Brolly backs Jim Gavin for Irish presidential race

Fianna Fáil has not yet announced its candidate for the Áras, and the former Dublin GAA boss hasn’t publicly confirmed if he is contesting for the party

GAA pundit Joe Brolly believes Jim Gavin would win the Irish presidency by “a landslide” as a Fianna Fáil minister said he would be a “fine” candidate.

Fianna Fáil has not yet announced its candidate for the Áras, and the former Dublin GAA boss hasn’t publicly confirmed if he is contesting for the party. However, it’s believed that he could have the backing of Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Former Derry manager Joe Brolly believes Mr Gavin would win the presidency “in a landslide” if he is chosen as Fianna Fáil’s candidate.

Speaking on his podcast Free State, he said: “All the GAA folk would vote for him and that’s all he needs. I think Gavin would sweep it, everything he touches turns to gold- but that sounds a bit trump like.

“It turns to success, he has great integrity. He has worked tirelessly for the good of others less fortunate than himself, organ donation sufferers and motor neurons. Everything he does with absolute consciousness and commitment. He’d get my vote if I was allowed one.”

Higher Education Minister James Lawless said he would be a “fine candidate”, but said he would not publicly back anyone yet “at this early stage”.

The Fianna Fáil politician said: “In terms of Jim Gavin, as with many others, there’s a number of names being speculated. I think he’d be a fine candidate.

“There are other equally fine individuals being suggested, all of whom have merits, all of whom have their attributes, and many of whom will be fine ambassadors for the party and indeed for the country. But it would be unfair for me to adjudicate upon one over others at this early stage.”

It’s expected there will be several candidates contesting Fianna Fáil’s selection process. Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher said his name has been doing the rounds as he “raised the issue of putting in place a process” for choosing a party candidate.

Speaking to RTÉ Radio 1’s Today with Claire Byrne on Tuesday, he didn’t rule himself out of the race, saying he hadn’t given it much thought.

He said: “People did approach me some time ago, particularly some parliamentary colleagues, just saying would I consider it.

“Lots of names were being discussed at the time in terms of MEPs across the various political parties and people did approach me at the time. But I didn’t give it any personal consideration or political consideration.”